UMass Boston

UMass Boston Recreation’s annual Breast Cancer Awareness Walk made its return to campus on October 16 with an expanded scope to support all who have had this disease touch their lives.

Over 60 attendees joined the Rec team on a windy walk through the GRACE trail, and they were greeted with a luncheon at the Clark Athletic Center where they had a chance to connect and view words of inspiration provided by UMass Boston Housing residents. Additionally, University Health Services provided free breast cancer screenings through the Dana Farber Mammography Van that was conveniently located on campus the entire day.

“Our annual Breast Cancer Awareness Walk is about more than the steps we take today—it’s about standing together as a campus community to honor survivors, remember those we’ve lost, and reinforce the importance of early detection and ongoing support,” said John Pagliarulo, the associate athletics director for recreation and finance.

Breast Cancer is a disease that will affect 1 in 8 women, and while this remains an unfortunate occurrence in our population, the chances of survival increase significantly with earlier detection.

“Our hope is that by making this a marquee event for our campus each year, this will encourage our women and everyone with women in their lives to begin the screening process early so that every step is taken to ensure they can live the longest and healthiest life possible,” says Fitness Manager Iván Serrano.

The UMass Boston Rec team thanks all who helped make this day a success and positive experience for everyone involved.